An economic analysis of silkworm cocoon production: A case study in Kolar district of Karnataka

The present study is an attempt to assess the silkworm cocoon production and its profitability in five taluks of Kolar district of Karnataka through structured survey during 2012–13. The sample comprised of 120 families consisting of 440 members with an average of 4.40. The number of adult male and female members constituted 46.14 and 33.41 per cent respectively and the rest were children. The number of illiterates in the sample was to the tune of 33 per cent. Out of total acreage wetland constituted 27.36 per cent while garden land formed 14.53 percent and the land holding pattern indicated the predominance of marginal (47.5 per cent) and small farmers (30 per cent). The holding per family varied from 1.75 to 20.42 acres with an average of 4.13 acre. The total cost incurred for rearing of 8, 000 DFLs per year was worked out to be 713640. Among the total cost, maximum cost was incurred towards the mulberry leaves 455000 (63.75per cent). The minimum cost of expenditure was incurred towards transportation and marketing 5000 (0.70per cent) and other costs were to the tune of 500 (0.07 per cent). The total net earnings from 10 batches per year was estimated to be 19, 13, 000 per 8, 000 DFLs per year with a benefit cost ratio of 1.59. The total investment on building and equipments for rearing of 8000 DFLs per year was worked out to be 30, 290. Among the depreciation cost incurred towards the equipments for rearing of 800 DFLs, the highest was contributed by mountages 25600 during the silkworm cocoon production activities.